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Illinois Central Railroad Steam Locomotives

The classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! Illinois Central Railroad steam locomotives were likewise distinguished by a wide range of numerical classes, a bit from the norm when most lines categorized their fleets by letters. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of the IC's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Illinois Central slogan described the railroad quite well, The Main Line of Mid-America. It was one of only a very few railroads to serve markets with north-south running main lines and not the traditional east-west movements. What made its routing even more odd was that it served Midwestern markets that likewise traditionally moved goods east and west, such as Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. Regardless of this the IC carved out a living hauling goods from Chicago to New Orleans and while today the Canadian National owns the railroad, its name continues to survive after over 150 years of existence.

The IC operated several different types of steam locomotives including 2-8-4 Berkshires, 2-10-2 Santa Fes, and 2-6-6-2 heavy articulateds. While there are currently none in operation several IC steamers survive, including two 4-8-2 Mountains. For more information regarding these surviving steamers please click here.

Class 10

The IC's Class 10 included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class 65, 75, 85, 102, 200, 210, 250

These classes designated IC's fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class 401, 3700

These classes designated IC's fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls.

Class 541

The IC's Class 541 included its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls.

Class 640

The IC's Class 640 included its fleet of 4-8-0 Twelve-Wheelers.

Class 700, 701, 790, 900

These classes designated IC's fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class 1000, 1031, 1049, 1139, 1310, 2030,

These classes designated IC's fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class 1001, 1002

These classes designated IC's fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics.

Class 1427

The IC's Class 1427 included its unique 2-4-6T.

Class 1442, 1449, 1454

These classes designated IC's roster of 2-6-4Ts.

Class 1501, 2100, 2101, 3766

These classes designated IC's roster of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class 2300, 2350, 2400, 2500, 2600

These classes designated IC's roster of 4-8-2 Mountains.

Class 2499

The IC's Class 2499 was its only roster of 4-6-4 Hudsons.

Class 2800, 2901

These classes designated IC's roster of 2-10-2 Santa Fes.

Class 3400, 3500, 3555

These classes designated IC's roster of 0-8-0 switchers.

Class 3600

The IC's Class 3600 was its only roster of 0-10-0 switchers.

Class 3610

The IC's Class 3610 was its only roster of 2-10-0 Decapods.

Class 3650

The IC's Class 3650 was its only roster of 0-8-2 switchers.

Class 6000

The IC's Class 6000 was its only roster of 2-6-6-2 heavy articulateds.

Class 7000, 7050, 8000

These classes designated IC's roster of 2-8-4 Berkshires.

For complete roster information regarding Illinois Central Railroad steam locomotives please click here.

For more reading and history on the IC consider Illinois Central Railroad from Tom Murray and published by Motor Books International (MBI has published numerous railroad books on a wide range of topics covered, and overall they do a very good job with books that are reasonably priced). The book gives a general history of the IC and includes several photographs, many in color. If you have any kind of interest in the IC you should very much enjoy this publication. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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